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Genome organization and molecular analysis of the temperate bacteriophage MM1 of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Virginia Obregón1, José L García, Ernesto García

  • 1Departamento de Microbiología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, 28006 Madrid, Spain.

Journal of Bacteriology
|March 20, 2003
PubMed

Insights

The MM1 bacteriophage genome, infecting Streptococcus pneumoniae, reveals 53 open reading frames and functional clusters. Gene sharing with other phages suggests adaptation in shared bacterial habitats.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Bioinformatics

Background:

  • * Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human pathogen.
  • * Multiresistant epidemic clones pose significant public health challenges.
  • * Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and play roles in bacterial evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To characterize the genome of the temperate bacteriophage MM1.
  • * To identify functional ORFs within the MM1 genome.
  • * To investigate evolutionary relationships and gene-sharing patterns with other bacteriophages.

Main Methods:

  • * Genome sequencing and assembly of the MM1 bacteriophage.
  • * Bioinformatic analysis of open reading frames (ORFs).
  • * N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis.
  • * Comparative genomic analysis with related bacteriophages.

Main Results:

  • * The MM1 genome is 40,248 bp, containing 53 ORFs organized into at least five functional clusters.
  • * Functional roles were assigned to 26 ORFs through bioinformatic and sequence analyses.
  • * MM1 shares genomic similarities primarily with phages infecting Gram-positive bacteria.

Conclusions:

  • * The MM1 bacteriophage genome exhibits a structured organization with identifiable functional units.
  • * Comparative genomics suggests recent horizontal gene transfer events.
  • * Gene exchange between bacteriophages infecting the same bacterial hosts likely contributes to phage adaptation and evolution.

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